Al Hughes was a centre/left-winger who spent a season and-a-half with the New York Americans in the early 30s. He was a natural goal scorer who found the back of the net frequently in the minors and as a senior player.

Born in Guelph, Ontario, Hughes played senior hockey with the Hamilton Tigers and the Toronto AA Clarke squad before moving on to the New York Knickerbockers of the USAHA in 1925-26. The next year he returned to Canada and spent two years toiling for the Niagara Falls Cataracts. In 1927-28, he was one of the top goal scorers in the Can-Pro circuit with 20 markers in 42 games.

In 1928-29, Hughes moved up to the Can-Am League to compete for the New Haven Eagles. After scoring 22 goals in 1939-40, the Americans decided to give him some NHL work. Hughes spent most of the year on a line with Johnny Sheppard and George Massecar while contributing 12 points and reliable defensive play. Halfway through the next season he was relegated to New Haven. Hughes then spent two years with the AHA's St. Louis Flyers before calling it quits in 1934.